RE: quitcomplaining on
You get home at 5:00PM, lucky you. I leave the house at 7:00AM, start work at 8:00AM, finish work at 6:00PM and only get home at 7:00PM, then I have to make dinner, clean, take care of my cat, work out for an hour in my gym downstairs at my apartment, and do whatever else needs to be done before I go to bed at no later than 10:30PM. It would be a lot easier though if I was home at 5:00PM like you, because my gym at home is only open from 8:00AM to 10:00PM.

OK. So I read the article. And then the comments...which is when I started to laugh. The excuses you people have are ridiculous! OH poor you...you work 8 hours a day and are expected to exercise?? How will you manage?? Oh wait...you just do. I work Monday to Friday from 6:30am til 4:30pm. So five ten hour days. Add in the driving time and I am out of the house from 6am til 5pm. And guess what? I go to the gym. I try for three work outs a week. And if i hit a day where I am just not feeling it I will go for a nice long walk with my boyfriend instead. Add in the option of hiking in the summer and guess what? Its not that difficult to actually move. So if you are going to complain about such a simple plan of cutting 250 calories and burning the same then you should probably just quit reading these articles at all cuz its not gonna get any simpler. Go ahead, grab a bag of chips and a pop and head for the couch to enjoy life...while you still have it.

This is great! I know I can do this! Thank you!

This is a great way to lose weight if you stay at home all day. What I would like to see is something for those of us who sit at a desk all day long or stand at a belt in a factory. How do we do it? We need the help too. We just can't leave when we want to, to play tennis or go to the gym. We need HELP!!

WOW!! I have never seen so many negative responses! For those of you in the "real world" This article is simply suggesting to find that 30-45 min a day to raise your heart rate and get in a good workout. Whether that be by cleaning the house or going for a brisk walk, and for the the rest of the time watch your diet. Be conscious of what you're eating. YOU are WORTH finding that 30 min a day for your health. Make it work around your schedule! If you have a busy day ahead it may be worth while to wake up an hour earlier to get in that work out in the morning!! Dont take it so litteral, this article was a 2 week suggestion, a look at how you "could" organize your week. MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU!

Yes! this concept is completely right.

I have my own theory which is a bit extreme. I eat a reasonable amount or a little excess for 2-3 days. Then day 4 and 5 is extreme or resonable workout (mostly cardio), on these days, try eating less. This boosts your metabolism and then for a couple of days, keep your diet consistently low fat and calorie.

Continue this over. I lost about 15 pounds a year. I wasnt consistent and yet it worked. So guess how much you can loose a week, if consistent?

I get the idea of this article, the burn half and dont eat half the calories. However, this is not for EVERYONE. Its an idea. But the people knocking the moms with kids are feeling bitter and ignored because they have hecktic lives as well. ANYONE who complains they dont have time....needs to stop complaining.

I work 7-5 everyday. I take the BUS to work, which takes about two hours away from my "workout" time. I make all my own healthy meals consistantly, and run 5-6 days every week, and include strength training 3-4 days a week. I dont always like waking up to the cold windy mornings of cardio before a bus ride and a whole day at work but these things must be priorities if you'd like to look and feel healthy.
If you complain about your kids, your job, your commute, or your lack of time to do anything but eat bad food and avoid exercise, you are simply not taking your health seriously enough. Get a grip, wait til' the kids go to be before you throw an exercise video on, or maybe suck it up and hit the treadmill at 5am before work, or 11 pm after work. If your health and well being is important you'll do what it takes.

I am surprised that there was no mention of visiting your local dietician.

I have spent over 20 years trying to lose my excess of 150 lbs. including Calorie Counters, Nutrisystem (before it became Jenny Craig), Weight Watchers, Atkins, etc.

It was my Doctor who put me in touch with a dietician through our local community health services (which is FREE).

A dietician assesses your lifestyle, age, weight, budget, likes/dislikes, stresses, medications, etc. and plans and monitors a workable plan. It is like having a personal trainer for your over-all health and it is FREE. I see my dietician every 3 months to keep me on track.

Please consult your Doctor and get a referal - I have now lost almost 60 lbs and am 60% to goal weight. I wish all of you the best- Good Luck!!!

Seriously? - I fall into the desk jockey type- work out regular but also don't burn as much as I take in - I certainly don't have mocha frapachinos while having my tennis lessons- I thought this link was for realistic weight loss approaches as opposed to the "soccer mom " with the tennis bracelet routine - come on sympatico- you have done better on these articles skip the junk or you run the risk of being a fluff site not taken seriously.

I think a lot of people missed the point of this article. It was more of the method that they were stressing, which was to burn an extra 250 calories a day and to eat 250 calories less a day. This isn't a difficult concept to grasp and they just offered some handy suggestions on different ways to accomplish that. For the people that say they can't "find enough time" to accomplish their goals, they just don't want that goal bad enough. I'm a medical student and a personal trainer and I still manage to get an hour of exercise a day. I do not starve myself. I plan ahead and pack six small, healthy, balanced meals. It all comes down to whether you're willing to put the effort in or not.

Great article. What suggestions do you have for vegetarians( no meat/fish/eggs) -- have added the work outs and reduced the food - added a lots of veges and fruits but struggling with the protein- controlled the carbs. Thanks for your time.

The suggestions in this article are good but something that is not mentioned which most people are not aware of ..... not eating and not eating enough can cause weight gain. What happens to a lot of people is they think that by not eating as much they will lose weight. This causes their metabolism to drop and makes their body think they are in starvation-mode, body holds onto fat, won't burn it off.

If this goes on long enough, the body may lose the ability to process insulin properly - this makes the body think it's full all the time, there is a loss of appetite, many skipped meals, generally less eating.

It's a vicious cycle, and regardless of how much exercise ... it's usually brought upon by those with desk jobs, or really any job that involves a lot of sitting or minimal movement.

Regular eating (protien is a must!) and some form of activity at least 3 times a week will help you get back on track.

These suggestions are such "airhead" assumptions!

I DO NOT have that type of snacking...neither have the time to go galivanting around town on coffee chats or morning sessions of tenis..or golf...or whatever else.

Be realistic, otherwise keep your silly suggestions to your circle of airheads.

People always complain about how to lose weight and probably always will. "I have tried everything" is a common phrase I hear from friends and family. The biggest problem is understanding them as they munch on twinkies and the like as they state it. Sure not everyone is obese from overeating. Some are obese from lack of metabolism. Not eating is just as bad or worse than over eating. when you don't eat much, your body stores whatever it can while slowing down metabolism. Start off your day with a good breakfast just after you get up, don't wait an hour or two. Start off your metabolic system right away and burn off more throughout the day easier. Make sure to eat you meals and small snacks in between, all meals should be smaller but eat more meals during the day.
I start off the day with 2 slices of bread/toast with butter, a cup of tea and a glass of OJ at about 7:00AM. I usually have a snack(donuts or more toast) around 9ish and a lunch at about 11(anything from soup to 4-5 hotdogs). Around, 1-2 I have another meal(probably a sandwich with processed meats, tomatoes, onions, mayo and mustard), only small one. I'll have a snack about 4(a cake or bar or fruit with tea) and supper around 5:30(anythin from steak to pork, maybe spaggetti). Again at 7:00PM I'll have another snack/small meal(a cake or bar) and probably another at 9:00( tea and donut or fruit). Before I go to bed at around 12ish I'll have another meal (usually two sandwiches, chili, beans, or something filling). sounds like a lot of food, but my metabolism is burning away all day. I do not exersize as in gym or home workouts, though I do work in the garden and around the house while not at my job. when I'm not at my job, I run my home based business, so I'm kept very busy. I am 5'8" tall and weight about 158lbs. I'm a smoker(and yes I know i need to quit, and working at it) most of my work self employment/job are based on a computer at a desk. Metabolism is the key to weight loss and consistency. kick start it and your off on a journey to happiness.

Why does the world assume that all those wanting to lose weight are soccor mom types who spend their weeks cleaning the house, playing tennis or having coffee, taking the kids here and there and have every night and weekend free to engage in some sort of leisure activity?
That is so typical and very frustrating for those of us professionals who work in their offices every day, most evenings and a lot of weekends to meet the demands of their clients and make a living... and ....heaven forbid...have no kids!!!
Please make your articles more fitting for the rest of us in the "real world"
Female Attorney.

Great article!! I printed it and will pass it around :)

everyone is saying they dont have time for this, all the article is asking you to do s cut out one of your bad foods and do a little exercise... it is recommended to do 3--90 minutes of avtivity daily, it doesnt mean u have to do it all at once.. these are just suggestions. u can work activities into your daily routine like getting off your bus one stop before yours, taking te stairs instead of elevator and playing with your kids outside instead of watching tv... stop complaining people, it just excuses

I cannot believe some of the comments I am reading. I have given myself a goal to lose weight over the course of the next 6 months. I have taken up pilates (I only do about 15 - 20 minutes a day) followed by a 5 - 10 minute walk. I do this after a full day of work. I do not eat junk food nor drink coffee. I eat small portions 5 times a day and my last meal is no later than 4:30 pm. I have been experimenting with the best food combinations and times over the course of the last two years. I am not starving. ALL of my meals are home-made - nothing fancy. I refuse to eat processed food. Currently, I have lost 5 lbs and one pant size over the last two weeks. No matter what, I will continue my program because I believe that although I may not lose all the weight I want to get rid of, I will be healthier and happier for it in the long run. You don't have to kill yourself, just make an effort.

I just wanted to say that there are some very simple and great ideas in this artice. I have ran it off and plan to utilize some of it! A small way to effectively make a great difference. I always find great things here to help me in my quest.

On a side note, I wanted to add one comment to the lady who stated that all the people making negative comments are overweight...I am overweight in my eyes...can we assume all skinny people are as ignorant as you??

Cheryl has taken the time to write this and for those of you who like it great...for those of you that don't...find something else. No need to be ignorant...after all, did it change what was written or make a change in your life or make you feel better? Just some food for thought!

The best excercise is pushing back from the table, not eating prepackaged foods. Making food from scratch takes less time than heating prepared frozen food, or mixing from prepackaged. Less salt, less fat, fewer carbs.

Agreed with the majority of comments here...a funny article, well written, good concept (the 50% excercise&50% food) but I just couldn't relate, and apparently neither could a lot of other readers.

Just because these suggestions don't apply to your exact situation, stop and think about what you are doing every day.

I'd suggest spending less time on the computer if you don't have enough time in the day. Stop reading about how to lose weight and go move around instead.

How many calories to you burn typing a long winded negative response?? Its a good article if you just see the point.

this article is disappointing sine i dont drink coffee...i dont give myself or my kids ast food...we dont have sweets in the house...fruits ad veggies...water...no juice...i give them healthy snacks as for my self...i work 8 hr 8-5...get home deal with family...dinner....homework...there is no time to do all this...this is even some what impossible for some single peaople iknow....you should really do some research on peaple who are living REAL LIFE!...busy with families...work...and a lot more to deal with...i enjoy reading ur articles but this one is totally not realistic!

I'm a stay-at-home mom and many have said these are suggestions and guidelines.some have said they can not exercise and have no time to do so, thats fine but next time when you go to the mall or go to the grocery store simply park your car alittle further. being a stay at home mom does not mean all of sudden we've got all the time in the world, that's insaine . I am way more busy than before when I worked,but I still find 5 min. in my day to walk up my sairs 1or2 extra times.maybe some of you should start drinking coffee? its very calming

I am just amazed at the negative comments on this article! I have to assume that all those that commented negatively are overweight and out of shape and ALWAYS have an excuse as to why they are. They probably wonder how slim fit people stay that way and bitterly assume that they starve themselves and suffer through excercise for the sake of vanity (and maybe some do!) However, most slim healthy people understand the biology of their body, eat only until they are NOT HUNGRY (not until they are full)by eating slowly, filling up on mostly fruits & vegetables, along with whole grain carbohydrates, and lean protien. They don't eat alot of stuff that doesn't fill them up but contributes calories (like butter on sandwiches)to their daily consumption. They do sports & when there isn't time for sports, they take 1/2 hour to excercise so they're strong enough to play sports. I am a single mom to three kids, I manage two businesses, run my household, have a social life and I'm not a hyper superwoman. I just don't waste alot of time and I like myself and so like to take care of my body & mind. If you're overweight & think you can't have a lifestyle that promotes a healthy weight then believe me, you're over eating and under moving and wasting time somewhere in your day. And to 'seventyish', you sound like a pouty little child! Why would you think you have to 'give up eating'?!? Geez, if you have so few people in your life, I'd say you have alot of extra time on your hands to do healthy things for yourself! Yes more swimming, walking, & gardening AND less eating - not NO eating! And to Judie who 'can't' excercise - well EAT LESS! Geez! Your body requires 1500-2500 calories/day to maintain your current weight depending on your age & activity level(you can find out your approximate metabolic rate on several websites). If your net calories per day are more than required to just run your body, it will convert those nutrients to fat. If you have enough days where this occurs (the excess adds up to 3500 calories) you will have stored 1lb of fat. Net calories = calories consumed - calories burned. It's just soooo simple!

Personally I think that if you are complaining about the relevancy and quality of the article, you musn't need or want to lose the weight badly enough anyway, so why even complain? - as someone said earlier they are only SUGGESTIONS and all you need to do is take a little time out of your day to decide to exchange a bad habit for a good habit, a small cost toward a positive change in your life - aren't YOU worth it?

The negative comments on this article are from people who just don't get it and are looking for another excuse not to diet and exercise.

What a complete waste of time. I got 1/2 way through the 2nd week and stopped reading. Does the author have any clue on what the average woman does in their day? How about single women working shift work without kids?

I think some of you are missing the big picture of the article. It's saying give up the little treats/extras we feed ourselves each day and get up and get moving. It doesn't matter if you're giving up your cappuccino or your Friday movie popcorn, just give up a few calories a day. And it doesn't matter if you're spending money on a Tai chi class or just walking around the block, just get moving.

I think people's comments about this article are ridiculous! Of course some tips are not going to apply. They are SUGGESTIONS on how to burn and cut extra calories. Chances are if you're complaining you don't have time to go play tennis with a friend or the money for a yoga class you're probably sitting on the couch watching the biggest loser on your big screen tv while eating a bag of potato chips. Both of which cost time and money better spent elsewhere. Yeah, keep watching others put in the work to lose weight and go ahead and complain you're still fat! How's that been working for ya?

Its not like they are saying you have to do exactly what is on the list, but the idea behind it is spot on, basically, move more, and eat less (of the bad stuff anyway) The only thing you need to be careful about would be not eating enough in a day as that can do more to set you back then to benefit you.

and what if you do have money for all these activties?

Fill in a food diary of the foods/snacks you eat. That way you can cut out /replace any empty calorie you consume. Try to fit actvity in whenever you can. (even 10 minutes at a time). If it was that easy i would be at my "goal".

I don't have kids, don't drink coffee, don't have a yard, and certainly don't take my clothes to a dry cleaners. Really bad article, I actually thought it was a joke, because it was pretty funny because it was so pathetic.

I have to say I'm really not impressed with this article. I would love to be able to find the time and energy for all of these activities after a 8.5-9 hr day. Also, already don't have the caps and other junk they are suggesting be skipped.

I believe this article's suggestions can be implemented into a very small fraction of the population, and they're probably too busy to read it.

This plan does not encourage skipping meals and snack. It encourages eliminating the extra munching that we tend to do during the day. Read the information and you will understand

I like this article - the suggestions are just that - suggestions to give you an idea of what constitutes the calorie values. You can change it up to suit your lifestyle. How about running stairs at the hockey arena during practice time or a brisk walk while the kids are doing homework?
I don't have little kids any more but I do try to take the stairs and I don't eat anything after supper.

I have to agree with the other two comments. I got really upset and stopped reading after day 2. Terrible !!!

I love your articles and look forward to reading them but I must say this is a great dissappointment. This suggests that everybody eats cheese and nuts at nite and that movie goers eat licorce. There seems to be no thought put into this article that fits into a real life style of either a family or single person. There is only cutting out stuff and not putting healthy foods in. The exercises are assuming that people don't usually clean their houses or have young kids that they take to classes or events. I hope that your next article is more realistic and keeps up with your readers real lives.

What a pretentious plan.... Tai Chi Class, Yoga, it sounds good but not realistic enough when first... you might have no time, second, you might have no money !!, who knows, maybe you don't even have a bike.

Skipping meals doesn't sound like a good advice either, specially when doctors recommend to healthy snack during the day instead of having 3 huge meals 3 times a day, a little kit kat bar is not too bad, considering that studies have said that chocolate is healthy and for God sake you need a little bit of sugar every day.

I didn't like it at all. Instead, try to eat healthy without punishing yourself to the point of make you sad, if you want a chocolate go get it !!, after that be responsible for your desicions, if loosing weight is what you are looking for, well, work for it, excersise after, keep (or try to keep) a calories count and see how much you should be burning.

Dieting and excersising should be something that empowers you as a woman, not some sort of punishment and stressfull experience.

I agree with both comments... This is a terrible plan.
Why not just maintain healthy portions, water and more exercise ? Who the hell has the time in the day?

This plan is based on someone who eats junk food and sweets,
I am about 150lb, strugling to loose about 15lb., but i can't even skip eating the things you suggest to skip becouse i don't eat that stuff at all.
I drink black coffee, completley avoid sugar, and i don't remember last time we went out to get fast food. i walk the dog 2 a day, and still strugle with weight.

I totally agree with the other 2 commentators. As a senior I do not have kids to play & eat with, and neither do I have a pal to play tennis with, or a bike, and have never played football, hockey, nor tennis; I can swim & walk and do some gardening fortunately, at least until my joints complain. I don't indulge in any of the junk snacks listed. I cannot skip a daily "caramel frappuccino" as I have never had one. How can I lose weight? Maybe more swimming & walking, and give up eating...

What a useless article. Skip snacks? That's the best advice? What about for people who don't snack on sweets on a regular basis? Perhaps more activities could be suggested instead!

Also, this does not suggest skipping meals at all - is suggests skipping snacks (or replace snacks like a muffin or yogurt & berry parfait with lower calorie ones like a banana)

This is fine for those who can exercise. What about the rest of us?

I think you're being a little over sensitive & defensive instead of getting the point. The point is to look at what you eat during the day & eliminate one time when you're eating something you could do without. It certainly depends on your lifestyle as to what that may be but if you're carrying a little extra weight, you definitely have 200-250 calories worth of extra food you could cut out & there is definitely a 1/2 hr in your day to spare to do something nice for yourself in terms of activity. A great way to get your head around these small changes in lifestyle would be to first get more positive about taking care of yourself instead of thinking of reasons that this won't work.

This plan is really bad. It encourages skipping meals (even healthy ones) and assumes that parents feed their kids fast food. How about something like 'switch this sort of unhealthy food for this one' rather than simply not stealing kids french fries... Not all of us are Starbucks junkies,

I normally enjoy your health, diet and exercise articles, but am sorely disappointed by this particular set of suggestions. They seem to have been tailored for a wealthy stay-at-home mom (whose children are all in school or daycare) with all the time in the world. You have taken one very unrealistic sterotype and geared your entire set of suggestions around it. You made this article completely useless to me and probably the majority of women who bothered to take the time to read it. At least I've hopefully burned some calories furiously typing this out. Maybe you could include that suggestion next time.